BOSTON — Rescue crews from Coast Guard Station Castle Hill, along with a good samaritan rescued a man whose 38-foot boat had caught fire and was sinking near the entrance to the Sakonnet River, R.I. at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a call via cell phone from the operator confirming he was the only one onboard, had not sustained any injuries and was abandoning ship into his 8-foot dinghy.
A good samaritan arrived within 15 minutes to the dinghy and recovered the man who was later transferred to a 45-foot response boat-medium where he was transferred to the station. He was evaluated by the Coast Guard EMT at the station, who recommended no further medical treatment.
Multiple fire departments responded. The vessel sunk while firefighters were fighting the fire.
The vessel is homeported in Portsmouth, RI. The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
